Combined switch and plug receptacle-box.



Patented Apr. I, I902. F. J. RUSSELL.

COMBINED SWIT CH AND PLUG RECEPTACLE BOX.

(Application filed May 1, 1901.\

(No Model.)

1/ l 4 v r ll lNVENTOR WITNESSES:

MAT RNEY 00., PHnYQ-UTHO WASHINGTON. u, c.

NTTFD STATES arnwr Prion.

FRANK JOSHUA RUSSELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINED SWITCH AND PLUG RECEPTACLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,597, dated April 1,1902. Application filed May 11 1901. Serial No. 58,290. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK JOSHUA BUS sELL, of the city, county, andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in'aCombined Switch and Plug Receptacle-Box, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is a combined switch and plug receptacle constructed andarranged in a box the joints whereof are made water-tight.

Myinvention consists more particularly in the arrangement of the switchwithin the box and of the means for operating said switch on theexterior thereof, the said means being so constructed that while theoperating-handle may be turned in either direction the switch mechanismis actuated only when said handle is turned in one direction; also, inthe arrangement of the plug so that the same may be secured firmly andaccurately in place in its receptacle and shall rest at its bottomportion upon an insulating-block also, in the various combinations andinstrumentalities more particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a horizontal section of thedevice on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsection on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical transversesection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of thecup. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cup looking into it. Fig. 6 is a planView, and 7 a side View, of the washer 33. Fig. 8 is a plan view of thesocket formed by the nipple 9, in"

which socket the cup is placed. Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the terminalplug, and Fig. 10 is a side View of the same. In Fig. 10 the plug isshown with its upper portion broken away and inverted.

Similar numbers of reference indicate like parts.

The containing-box 4 is of metal or any material suitable for anelectric wire wayjunction and has any suitable means for connecting theconductor-Wires to it. Thus a threaded opening is shown at 5 for theattachment of a pipe carrying the wires, while at 6 6 are shownstuffing-box glands for the same purpose. The box is provided with acover 7, resting on packing material 8 and secured in place by screws.On the cover are formed two threaded nipples 9 and 10, adapted toreceive the nuts 11 and 12, by means of which the switch-operatingdevice and also the plug, hereinafter described, are secured inposition.

Referring first to the switch and the device for operating the same,secured in the bottom of the box 4: by means of the screws 13 is thebase 14, of insulating material, through which passes the pin 15, whichcarries the switch-ratchet 16. The ratchet 16 is of the usualconstruction of insulating material and has a bar of conducting material17 extending through it, against the ends of which bar thespring-terminals l8 and 19 bear when the ratchet is suitably turned.

The switchconstruction so far described is that in ordinary use. Theupper end of pin 15 is threaded to receive the shouldered arms 20 and21, by means of which arms the switchratchet is turned tointerrupt orestablish circuit between the springs 18 and 19.

The switch-operating device which I am now about to describe is designedto prevent the switch-ratchet 16 from being turned other than in onedirection-namely, in the direction which will cause the inclined sidesof the ratchet-teeth to slide under the springs 18 and 19. In switchesof this type when the ratchet is turned in the opposite direction theeffect is to cause the shoulders of the ratchet-teeth to compress thesprings and ultimately to bend or break them, thus soon destroying thevalue of the switch. By my construction, now to be explained, this isrendered impossible, because, as I have stated, the switch-ratchet canby means of the device to be described be turned in but one direction.

In the nipple 9 is placed a cup 22, Figs. 4 and 5, of metal, the sidesof which are cut, as shown at 23, so that portions of them project toform pawls. The inner periphery of the nipple 9 is correspondinglyformed to produce a ratchet, as shown in Fig. 8. Hence when the cup isinserted in said nipple the pawls 23 engage with the shoulders thereon,and thus the cup is prevented from being rotated other than in onedirection. The bottom 24 of the cup 22, Fig. 5, is transversely slotted,as shown at 26. Below the bottom extend two arms 27 and 28, which whenthe cup is rotated engage with the arms 20 and 21 of the switch-Extending through the nut 11 and pin 15.

cup 22 is a rod 29, at the upper portion of which is theoperating-handle 30. In the upper part of nut 11 is a recess carrying apacking-washer 31, upon which the shoulder of rod 29 seats itself. Inthe nut 11 the rod is circular, so as freely to turn therein. Below thecircular portion the rod is square, as shown at 32, the squared portionthen passing through the similarly-shaped aperture in the washer33,Figs. 6 and 7. The rod then passes through the round central portionof the slot 26 in the bottom of cup 22, this round open portion beinglarge enough to permit the squared part 32 of the rod to turn freelytherein. Finally below the bottom of the cup there is a washer 34 andthe enlarged head 35 of the rod. Between the washer 33 and nut 11 isinterposed a spiral spring 36, the effect of which is to hold the washer33 seated firmly against the bottom of cup 22 and the shoulder on theupper part of the nut also seated firmly against the washer 31. Thewasher 33 is slit at its edges, as shown at 37, and the slit portionsare bent outward so as to form pawls. The washer is placed in the bottomof the cup 22 with the bent-up portions turned downward, as shown inFig. 7. As aconsequence when the washer is suitably placed thesedownward projecting edges of the pawls 37 will engage with the sides ofthe slot 26, formed in the bottom of the cup 22. Pawls 37 and slot 26thus produce another ratchet mechanism.

The operation of the parts so far described can now be easily followed.l/Vhen the handle 30 is turned in one directionthat is to say, from leftto right of the drawings-the pawls 23 on the cup 22 will engage with theinterior of the nipple 9. Consequently the cup 22 will not be turned,and the arms 27 and 28 thereon will remain stationary, so as not to actupon the switch-arms 20 and 21. The projections 37 on the washer 33,which washer will of course be rotated with the handle, will then runover the edges of the slot in the bottom of cup 22 without engaging insaid slot. The net result then of the turning of the handle 30 in thedirection indicated is that it does not actuate the switch. Now assumethe handle to be turned in the opposite direction. Then the projections37 on the washer 33 do engage with the edges of the slot 26 in thebottom of cup 22 and tend to turn that cup. The cup is free to turn,because the pawls 23 on its outer periphery then slide over the inclinedprojections within the nipple 9. Then also the arms 27 and 28 at thebottom of the cup engage with the switcharms 20 and 21, and so theswitch-ratchet 16 is revolved to make or break circuit, as the case maybe. It will be seen, therefore, that the handle 30 may be turned ineither direction and that when it is turned to the right its square endactuates the washer 33, causing the bent portions 37 thereon to engagein the slot 26 in the bottom of cup 22, and the cup is then free torevolve and so to operate the switch. On the other hand, if the handle30 be turned to the left the cup is prevented from revolving by thepawls 23 engaging with the shoulders in the wall of the nipple, the bentportions of the washer 33 slip over the slot in the bottom of cup 22,and so the switch-handle 30 is permitted to revolve idly. Therefore inthe latter case the switch itself is not operated, there is no danger.of

the projections on the switch-ratchet 16 bend-.

mg or breaking the contact springs, and equally no danger of the handlebecoming screwed off from its supporting-rod it it is connected theretoby a screw connection. It will also be obvious that by simply unscrewingthe nut 11 the handle and its rod, together with the cup 22 and all ofits associate parts, may be readily removed from the box.

Referring now to the arrangement of the plug, the body thereof is ahollow cylinder 38 of insulating material, which when inserted in placein the box rests directly on the block 39, also of insulating material,which is secured by the screws shown to the bottom of the box. Onopposite sides of the bottom of the cylindrical plug 38 are recesses toreceive the heads of the screws 40, by means of which contact-plates 41are secured on each side of said cylinder. Secured to the base 39 arespring-clips 42, which when the plug is in serted in place, as shown inFig. 3, bear against the contact-plates 41. The contactplates 41 extend,as shown, to the inside of the cylindrical plug, as represented at 43,and metal pins also project from said contactplates to the inside of theplug, as represented at 44, Fig. 2. The insulating portion 38 of theplug is secured to the threaded sleeve 45, within which is a rubbergasket 46. The

upper part of the sleeve 45 is threaded to receive a nut 47. On the sideof plug 38 is a vertical score 48, which receives the projection 49 onthe under side of the box-cover. The object of this projection is toallow the plug to be properly centered when it is inserted through thenipple 10.

It will be observed that the plug 38 rests directly upon theinsulating-base 39 and is forced into close contact therewith by meansof the nut 12 engaging with the threaded nipple 10. This nut screws downupon the gasket 50.

In connection with plug 38, arranged as described, are the usualconductors 52 and 53, inclosed in any suitable insulating-sheath 54 andsecured to the plug 38 by passing through the gland-nut 47 and rubbergasket 46 at the terminal end of the plug. These conductors are attachedto the terminal plates 41 by means of screws 40.

Between the insulating-base 39 and the bottom of the box may be insertedany suitable packing 51 to separate the screws 60 from the box 4.

The circuit connections are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, andproceed as follows: from one terminal 6 to the switch-spring 19, throughthe switch to the opposite spring 18,

011 its periphery with a pawl 23, nipple 9 adapted to receive said cupand formed internally with a shoulder for the engagement of said pawl,and means for rotating said cup in said nipple.

2. The combination with an inclosing box and a switch therein having anactuating-arm 20, of the cup 22 having arm 27 and provided on itsperipherywith the pawl 23, and having the slot 26 in its bottom, nipple9 adapted to receive said cup formed internally with a shoulder for theengagement of said pawl, Washer 33 having pawl projection 37 disposedwithin said cup, nut 11 on said nipple and actuating-rod 29 having itsbearing in said nut and engaging with said washer 33.

3. The combination with a box having inclosed within it aninsulating-base and con tacts and provided with a threaded nipple, of ashouldered plug of insulating material adapted to enter said nipple andto be seated upon said base, contact-plates on said plug adapted to makeelectrical connection with said contacts when said plug is seated asaforesaid and a flanged nut adapted to engage with said nipple and tohave abearing on the shoulder of said plug.

4E. The combination with the box t having the threaded nipple 10, of thebase 39, springclips 42 thereon, plug 38 having contactplates 41, andnut 12 adapted to engage with said nipple 10 and with a shoulder on saidplug.

5. The combination with abox 4 having the cover 7 and threaded nipple10, of the base 39, spring-clips 42 on said base, plug 38 havingcontact-plates 41 and provided with the score 48, nut 12 adapted toengage with said nipple l0 and with a shoulder on said plug,

